Mower attachment for tractors



' May 24, 1932. I HQRSTE 1,860,247

MOWER ATTACHMENT FOR TRACTORS INVENTOR ATTORNEYS y J. E. HORSTEI 1,860,247

MOWER ATTACHMENT FOR TRACTORS Fi'led Sept. 2. 1950 s Sheets-Sheet 2 H D I BY ar-anew, gjzz; T1236, 7? Zf/ars 6e ,26 WW I v ATTORNEY-s May 24,1932. Y E, H R TE 1,860,247

MOWER ATTACHMENT FOR- TRACTORS Filed Sept. 2. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR rfas 6; 2247402 9 ts ATTO RN EY'S Patented May 24, 1932 UNITED SJTAIJES PATENT or-Flea :rosnrn E. HOBSTE, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR 'ro DETROIT naiwlwsfnn com:-

PANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN,

A conrona'non or MICHIGAN MOWER ATTACHMENT FOR TIE-ACTORS Application filed September. 2, 1930. Serial Ha 479,284.

tion is to provide an attachment of this type- I in which a mower having a cutter bar or knife mounted for both reciprocable and pivotal movements is provided with both laterally and rearwardly extending bracing means which are connected to brackets suspended from the vehicle at spaced points longitudinally thereof. s

Another object is to provide, an attachment wherein one of the brackets aforesaid is suspended from rods or shafts extending transversely of the vehicle at spaced points longitudinallythereof and that is provided with a tubular portion-that constitutes a bearing for a portion of the laterally extending bracing means aforesaid. l Another object is to provide an attachment wherein the means operable by the power. take-off of the vehicle for reciprocating the cutter bar or knife includes a part pivotally' mounted upon one of the brackets aforesaid. Another objectis to provide an attachment wherein the means for raising and lowering the knife or cutter bar about its pivot includes parts carried respectively by one of the rods or shafts and the laterally extending bracing means aforesaid.

Another object is to provide means that is associated with and is operable automatically by the rearwardly extending bracing means for rendering the power take-off inoperative for driving the reciprocating cutter bar of the mower when the ground engaging portions aforesaid of the mower encounter any sizable obstacle or obstruction.

Other objects, advantages, and novel details of construction of this invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings,

wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a tractor with a mower attachment embodying my inventionapplied thereto;

line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Flgure 2 is a sectional view taken on the.

' Fi ure 3 is a-top plan iew of one of the brac rets suspended from thevehicle;

Figure 4 1s a sectional" view taken on the line44of Figure 3; 1 a

Figure 5 is' a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken on the line 66 of Figure 1; v

Figure 7 is a side elevation of one of the brackets suspended from the vehicle; Figure 8 is a top plan view of the bracket illustrated in Figure 7 v e Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9 9 of Figure 7. Figures 10 and 11 aredetail views of a portion of themechanism for raising and lowering the mower bar. I

Referring now to the drawings, A is a tractor, and 'B is a mower attachment ther'efor embodying my invention. As shown, the tractor is of conventional form andhas a power take-oflshaft 1 at one side thereof, a tubular housing 2 for the shaft, apivot ally .mounted control pedal 3 at one side of the ment B preferably comprises a mower 5,

laterally and rearwardly extending bracingv means 6 and 7 respectively, supporting means 8 for the laterally extending bracing means, means 9 operable by th'epower takeoff shaft- 1 for reciprocating the knife or cutter bar 10 of the mower-5, means 11 for raising and lowering the'knife or cutter bar 10, and means l2 operable automatically by the rearwardly extending bracing means -7 foractu'ating the control pedal 3 to render the power take-oif shaft 1 and drive means 9 inoperative for driving the cutter bar 10. Referring to the mower 5, 13 is an inner ground engaging shoe provided at spaced points longitudinally thereof with upstanding lugs 14 and 15 respectively; 16 is a mower bar bolted to the shoe 13 between the lugs 14; 5 and 15 and constituting a support for the knife .10'; 19 and-20 respectively are pivot pinsfextending through the lugs 141 and 15;

at the outer end thereof; 51 is an eccentric his 19 and 20; and 24 is an upstanding arm n 1n advance of the pivot 20 and bolted -As shown, the bars 25 and 26 are rigidly secured to the yoke 21 and are pivotally mounted upon the shaft27 at, opposite ends thereof.

' The shaft 27 is journaled in the tubularportion 28 of the bracket *8. Preferably the bracket 8 is a castingrand provided at opposite ends of the tubularportion 28 with of the vehicle at spaced points longitudinally portion 40 of a clamp 41 on the bracket upwardly diverging arms 29 and 30 respec tively which are bolted to bars 31 and 32 respectively suspended from rods or shafts 33 and 34 respectively extending transversely,

thereof. vP referably U bolts'35 and 36 respectively straddle the shafts 33 and 34 and are rigidlysecured to the bars 31 and 32 and constitute the suspension means therefor.

The \rearwardly extending-(bracing means 7 preferably comprises a thrust rod or pushbar 37 thatis connected at its forwardend to i a saddle 38 on the-yoke21and that extends depending 4.' A'coil spring '42 is sleeved upona bar 37 between the depending portion 40 aforesaid through a suitable opening 39 in a {and a nut 43-on the bar and serves as a cushion member for the latter in taking up thrust.

- Preferably a collar 44 is rigid with the bar a5 37 intermediate its eiids and is adapted to swing a lever 45 about its pivot 46 on a bar 47 extending downwardly from the vehicle so that an arm 48 projecting laterally from such that the mower is permitted a limited the lever at its upper end may actuate the pedal 3. In this connection it will be noted that the pivotal connections between the shaft 27 and bars 25 and 26 respectively are rearward movement, approximately six ry working conditions inches. Under ordin I the coil spring 42 idi ble to'hold the mower 'against such rearward movement; however,

- wl1en the mower encounters a real obstacle or sizable obstruction it will move rearwardly against the tension of the spring 42, and'in doing so will cause the collar 44 to swing the lever 46 so that the arm 48 will actuate the pedal 3 to render the power'ta'ke-ofi inoperative for driving the reciprocating knife on the mower bar. Thus damage to the mower including the cutter bar. is effectively prevented.

Referring tothedriving means from the power take-off to the knife 10 50 is a fly wheel rigid with the power take-01f shaft 1 carried by the fly wheelj50; 52 ifs a substantric 51 and to the arm 53 of the rocker; and

54 is a pitman terminally connected tothe arm 55 of the rocker and to the knife 10 whereby upon rotation of the power shaft 1 the rocker 52 willj'belswung about its pivot and will cause the pitman rod 54 to reciprocate the knife 10 on the mower bar ,16.

Referring to the means 11 for'raisingand lowering the mower bar 16 and knife 10,; 56

is a lever pivotally mounted upon the shaft 33; 57 is a lever pivotally mounted upon the for holding the lever 56 in a raised position; 66 is a lever pivotally mounted uponthe bar 26 and .engageable with a lug-66 projecting laterally from the bar 26; 67 is a link terlever 57 and 68 is a link terminallyconnected to the lever 66 and to'the arm 24: Thus 64 in a segment 65 rigid with the shaft 33 bar 25; 58 is a link terminally connected to.

the shaft 34; 63 is a latch carried 7 minally connected to the lever 66 and'to the when the mower is in operation or in lowered ground engaging position the latch 63 rides freely upon the arcuate upper edge of the segment 65; the lever66 is spaced below the lug 66 on the bar 26; and the arm 24 is in an upright position in spaced relation to the bearing 20 for the pivot 20. 1 However, when the operating handle 59 is pulled rearwardly .the links 58; 67 and '68 respectively. will be' omoved longitudinally and will cause the le-.

vers 57 and 66 and arm 24 respectively to be actuated so that C the niowenwill be raised free of the ground. For instance, whenthe,

arm 24qis pulled rearwardly by the link 68 thearm will fulcrum on the bearing 20 for the pivot*20 and will cause the mower bar 16,

' shoe 13 and knife 10 to swing as a unit. about mower at the outer-end thereof to be raised free ofthe ground; The latch 63 then engages the recess 64 in the segment and causes the parts aforesaid to be held in raised position. w T g I While it is believed that fronrtheforego- "ing description the nature and advantages of the invention will be'readily apparent, I desireto have it understoodthat I do not limit myselfto what is herein shown and described, and that such changes may be resorted 'to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed. I

What claim as myinvention is: g 1. The ombinatibn :with a motor driven tially triangular shape 1 rocker pivotally vehicle, of a mower attachment therefor inmounted upon the arm 31 of the bracket 8; eluding a mower having a ground engaging '52 is a link -terminally connected to the eccer shoe, a yoke carried by said shes, a. mower barpivotally mounted on said shoe, a bracket suspended from the vehicle, ashaft carried by the bracket,/a pair of bars terminally conswinging the mower, bar, yoke and aforesaid. v a

2'. The combinationwith a motor driven vehicle, of a mower attachment therefor including a'mower having a groundengaging shoe, a yoke pivotally connected to said shoe,

" yoke and shaft, and means pivotally con nected to oneof said bars for swinging the suspended from; the vehicle, a rotary shaft journaled in the bracket, apair of bars terminally connected to and rigid with said shoe and mower-bar relative to the yoke and subsequentlyraising the shoe, mower bar and yoke relative to the ground.

3." The combination witha motor driven vehicle, of a mower attachment therefor including a mower having aground engaging shoe, 2. yokecarrled by said shoe, a mower bar connected to said shoe, shafts extending transversely of the vehicle at spaced points longitudinally thereof, a bracket suspended from said shafts, a bracing connection between said yoke and bracket, means for mov ing{ the shoe and mower bar relative .to the yo e and for subsequently raising the shoe, mower bar and yoke free of the ground, in

cluding an arm connected to the bar, and a lever mounted upon one of the shafts afore said and operativeliy'conn'ected to said arm, ing the shoe, mower bar and yoke in raised position including a sector rigid with the shaft upon .Which the lever is mounted and having a recess therein, and a latch carried by said'leverj and engageable with the recessin said sector; 4.The combination with a motor driven vehicle, of a mower attachment therefor including amower havinga ground engaging shoe, a yoke carried by said shoe, apair of shafts extending transversely of the vehicle at spaced points longitudinally thereof, a bracket suspended from said shafts and havingla tubular portion, and a-bracingconnection between said yoke and bracket including a shaft j ournaled in the tubular portion, and

a bar extending laterally from the 'yoke' and connected to the shaft in said tubular portion.

5. The comv ination with a motordriven:

, vehicle having a power take-off. of a mower attachment for the vehicle including a ground engaging shoe, a mower bar carried by said shoe, a reciprocating knife carried by said bar, a yoke carried by said shoe, a bracket suspended from tlfe vehicle, a connection between said bracket and yoke, and a driving connection between said power take-off and knife including a pivotally mounted part carried by said bracket. I

vehicle having a powertake-ofi, of amower 6. The combination with a motor driven attachment for the vehicle including a ground l shoe, a reciprocatin suspended from'the vehicle, a connectionbetween said bracket and yoke, and 'a'driving connectionbetween said power take ofi -and knife includinga rocker shaft mounted on said bracket, and a pitman'rod terminally connected to said rocker and to said knife.

3 a mower bar connected to said shoe, abracketathe vehicle including a ground engaging shoe,

a mower bar carried by said shoe, a reciprocatih'g knife carried by said mower bar, a yoke carried by said shoe, brackets suspended from the vehicle at spaced points longitudinally thereof, bracing connections between said yoke and brackets, a driving connection between said power take-off and knife, and

means associated with one of said bracing connections and adapted to actuate the cont-rolmember aforesaid to render the power.

take-off, inoperative for driving the knife when the mower encounters an obstruction;

8. The combination with a inotor driven vehicle havin a power take-off, and a con trol member therefor, of a mower attachment for the vehicle including a mower having a ground engaging shoe, a mower bar carried by said shoe, a rec procating knife carried by said bar, a yoke carried by said shoe, bracketssuspended from the vehicle at spaced points longitudinally thereof, a connection between said yoke and one of said brackets, a connection etween said yoke and the other of said brackets including a thrust or push'bar, a driving connection between said power takeits off and knife, and means for actuatin thecontrol member to render the powerv ta e-off inoperative for driving the knife when the mower engagesvan obstacle, including a lever engageable with the control member, and an element carried with said lever.

by said push bar engageable 9. The combinationwitha motor driven vehicle, of a mower attachment therefor including a mower having a ground engagin shoe, a yoke connected to said shoe, a mowe bar connected to said shoe, a bracket suspended from the vehicle, a bracing connection between said bracket and yoke including a pair of bars, alug projectingfrom one of said bars, and means for moving the shoe relative to the yoke and for subsequently raising the shoe, mower bar and yoke'free from the ground including a lever pivotally connected to one of said bars and engageable with the lug aforesaid. I 1

10. The combination with a motor drivenvehicle, of a mower attachment therefor including a mower having a ground engaging shoe, a yoke connected to said shoe, a1 mower bar connected to said shoe, a bracketsuspended from the vehicle, a bracing connection between said bracket and yoke lncluding a pair of bars, a lug projecting from one of said bars, and means for moving the shoe relative to the yoke and for subsequently raising the-shoe, mower bar and yoke free from the groundincluding an. arm connected to the m mower bar, a lever o eratively connected to the arm and engageahle with the lug'aforesaid, and an operating member carriedby the vehicleand connected to the lever. 11. The combination with a motor driven i5 vehicle having a powertake-ofi, of a mower attachment for the vehicle including a mower having a ground engaging sho'e, a cutter associated with the shoe, a driving connection between the power take-ofi and cutter, a yoke carried by said shoe, brackets suspended from the vehicle at spaced points longitudinally thereof, a connection between said yoke and 'one of said brackets, a longitudinally movable rod extending from the yoke and having a yieldable, sliding connection with the other racket, and means rendered active by the last mentioned rod uponlongitudinal movement thereof in one direction to render the driving connection aforesaid inactive, In testimony whereof I afiix my'signature. JOSEPH E. HORSTE. 

